The Journey(s) of Ian

The streets of the city. Surat Thani is a city ~600kms to the south of Bangkok, capital of the surrounding province of the same name, and on the eastern side of the long and sinuous southern Thai peninsula. The town is the largest between itself and Bangkok, but in appearance, to be frank, it is not that exciting. It suffers from an innate plainness, plus it is surrounded by a host and a range of popular tourist destinations, the resort/beach island of Koh Samui and Khao Sok National Park, to name but two. Many tourists see no more of Surat town than a view through a bus window as they transit through to a more appealing destination.  Bus station, to the west of the town, a few kms. Train Station, more than a few kms out of town. The stats: Surat Thani town stretches along the Tapi river, near in fact, to the river mouth. The city population is ~130,000, and a million or so in the province. The town itself is designated by the Thai government as a 'Thesaban